Ore roasting and desulfurizing furnace.



No. 680,6I3. Patented Aug. l3, I90l'.

A. S. PABTRIDGE.

OBE ROASTING AND DESULFUBIZING FURNACE. (Application filed Feb. 1a, 1399. (No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet m: NORRIS Firms 00., mom-uma, WASHINGTON, n. q.

No. 680,6!3. Patented Aug. l3, I901.

A. s. PARTRIDGE.

ORE ROASTING AND DESULFUBIZING FURNACE.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1899.) I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

"rm: "mums vrrzns cc. Pflmoumo. wasumo UNITE STATES ATENT Orrrcn.

AMOS S. PARTRIDGE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ORE ROASTING AND DESULFURIZING FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,613, dated August 13, 1901.

7 T0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Autos S. PARTRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving-Retort Ore Roasting and Desulfurizing Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

It is well known that a proper roasting of ores before submitting them to subsequent treatment liberates and thereby greatly facilitatesj the extraction and saving of the valuable metals they contain.

Myinvention relates to an improved apparatus for roasting and desulfurizing ores previously reduced to suitable fineness, by the use of which in the roasting of ores that contain sulfur and other combustible substances the metals therein are liberated by disintegration of the ore in which they are combined and held, thus converting what is known as refractory ores into the condition known as free milling by destroying the affinity existing between the elements they contain. The higher the degree of heat below the fusing-point of the material under treatment and the greater the regularity and force with which the air is supplied the more evenly the heat is distributed throughout the ore and the more uniformly and rapidly will thorough oxidation occur. It is of primary importance that an oxidizing condition be maintained during the whole time the ore is submitted to the process of roasting, because if the sulfur does not get sufficient oxygen to convert it into sulfurous-acid gas complete oxidation will not be obtained. It has been customary to submit the ores to heat derived from the combustion of fuel mixed with them, which is neither an economical nor efficient practice, because fuel to become effective must be in intimate contact with the air, and when contained in and covered and smothered by the ore only such particles of it as are at the surface and in immediate contact with the air attain perfect combustion.

It is the obj eot of my invention to construct a furnace in which the operations may be so carried out as to realize the desirable results Fig. 1.

Application filed February 18, 1899. erial No. 706.067. (Ito model.)

above stated; and my invention consists in devices and features of novelty, in combination with old and well-known methods and devices, as hereinafterfully described, and pointed out in the claims.

\Vhile my apparatus relates to the roasting and desulfurizing of ores, it provides for the necessary escape of gases generated by the roasting ore by the'old and well-known means of collecting and condensing fumes, smoke, vapors, and gases by contact with water, thereby precipitating and saving the valuable substances contained therein.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the center of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional vieW taken on the line a: as,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the air-pipe and intimate parts. Fig. 4: is a sectional side view of the blowpipe. Fig. 5 is an end View of one of the blowpipes. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the discharge end of the retort-shell and intimate parts. Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the pulverized-fuel feed-pipe and of the alternating valves in same and the mechanism for operating them. Fig. 8 is a front view of the fuel-feed pipe and its valves.

The furnace is constructed with suitable side and end walls and a top 5, that inclose a fire-chamber 5, containing an ash-pit 5 and a grate 9.

7 designates doorways for the insertion of fuel onto the grate, the doorways being closed by the doors 7.

10 designates the horizontally-disposed hollow cylindrical revolving retort of conical shape, mounted in the fire-chamber 5 in close relation to the ends 6, provided on its interior with longitudinally-arranged agitating-strips 10. The conical shape of the shell when in operation will move the ore by its own gravity from its feeding-in end to the place of dis- 5 charge.

In the construction and operation of my furnace I provide for a continuous and ample supply of compressed air to the roasting ore by means of an air-compressor and the air- Ioo pipe 12, delivered through the blowpipes 13, in intimate contact with the ore undergoing treatment, in such volume and force as to penetrate and thoroughly permeate the mass of ore and reach every particle of the same, whereby quick perfect combustion and uniform oxidation is obtained. I also provide for a constant and regular supply of quicklyigniting fuel from the fuel-hopper 30 and the valved pipe 36 through'the air pipe 12 and the blowpipes 13, intermixed with and conveyed by the air into the mass of ore whenever the ore under treatment contains less combustible matter than is sufficient to properly oxidize the same with desired rapidity. The fuel thus used may be pulverized charcoal or any other finely-pulverized carbonaceous substance that may be readily conveyed through the air-conveying pipe 12 and blowpipes 13.

In a furnace of the character to which my invention relates it is of much importance that means he provided to prevent the escape of disagreeable or noxious fumes or odors in the operation of the furnace. This is especially the case Where arsenical or mercurial ores are being treated, the. vapors, smoke,and gases from which are extremely injurious to the operators. preventing the escape of such fumes I effectually close the ends of the revolving retort 10, the closing means comprising angular flanges 19 and 19 of suitable width and pitch to provide for the expansion and contraction of the metallic retort projecting inwardly from the end walls of the furnace, annular grooved wings 18 and 18 carried by the retort and arranged coincident with the flanges 19 and 19 and between the flanges 19 and 19 and the annular grooved wings 18 and 18 1 interpose packing-rings 20 and 20*, laid in the grooves. The packing-rings must be sufficiently flexible to adjust themselves to and fill the varying space between the flanges and the annular rings and may be made over a coil of spring-wire overlayed with any suitincombustible lubricant.

able incombustible plastic non-conductor of heat to prevent untempering the spring-wire, or they may be made wholly of any pliable incombustible materialsuch, for instance, as asbestosand may be kept lubricated by the application of plumbago, mica, or other By suitable pitch and width of the flanges l9 and 19 the grooved annular wings 18 and 18, so adjusted as to hold the packing-rings 20 and 20 in place, I provide for the expansion and contraction of the metallic shell of the retort and coexisting parts, thus preventing the escape of in jurious fumes and gases to be inhaled by the operators. The fumes pass from the retort 10 into a pipe 22, that leads to a fume-precipitation tank 24, in which they are condensed and relieved of all particles of value, after which they are conveyed through the outletpipe 25 to the atmosphere or any place desired. The precipitation-tank 24 contains baffle-partitions 24. In order to facilitate the precipitation of the metallic particles carried by the fumes to the pipe 22, I employ a For the purpose of pipe 23, provided with a valve 23", and a sprayer 23,located within the pipe 22,t-hrough which water may be injected to cause the more ready precipitation of the metallic particles. Leading from the fume-precipitation tank 24 is a valved pipe 24, that leads to a pipe 28, provided with valves 28, and is connected to the main precipitation-tank 26, and through which the precipitates may be conveyed wherever desired. The retort-shell 10 has connected to it at its ends supportingspiders 14 and 14, the hubs of which encircle the air-pipe 12, and connected to one of the spiders is a shaft 15, provided with apulley 16, that receives a belt by which the retort is driven.

26 designates the main ore-reeeiving tank, containing water or other aqueous liquid, provided with the outlet-valve 26, and 27 is a discharge-pipe leading into said main ore-receiving tank and connected to one of the end plates 6.

28 is a chute secured to the end plate 6 and discharge-pipe 27 and having its inner end arranged beneath the outlet end of the revolving retort-shell 10, where it receives the material from the retort and delivers it desulfurized into the discharge-pipe 27. The lower end of the discharge-pipe 27 is always maintained sufficiently beneath the surface of the liquid in the main precipitation-tank to prevent the escape of fumes through said .pipe, thus compelling such fumes to pass to and through the escape-pipe 22.

29 designates the ore-receiving hopper open to communication with the conveyer-tube 32, containing a conveyer-screw 33 33*, provided with a driving-pulley 33 or other means of transmitting power mounted in a bearing 34. The conveyer-tube 32 is open at its inner end to communication to the retort, so that the ore being of suitable fineness may be freely fed into the retort; but when the ore is not being fed by the conveyor the inner end of the conveyer-pipe is closed by a gravity-check 32 to prevent the escape of air or gas from the retort through the conveyer-tube.

3O designates a pulverized-fuel-receiving tank connected to the air-pipe 12 by a pipe 36, containing valves 42 and 43. The valves 42 and 43 (see Figs. 7 and 8) have connected to them a bell-crank 40, mounted on a shaft 41, provided with a crank-arm 41 that receives the connection of a rod 45 that leads to an eccentric 45 on a shaft 44, that may be suitably operated to alternately open and close the valves 42 43 and deliver a given quantity of pulverized fuel through the pipe 36 to the air-pipe on the movement of the connecting-rod 45. i

37 designates the smoke-stack, which may contain a draft-fan 38, adapted to be driven by power applied to a drive-pulley 38 When the plant is installed. to prepare the apparatus for roasting, a fire is started in the fire-chamber 5 and the revolving retort put in motion until it assumes a low cherry-red color, when the compressed air and feedscrew should be put in operation.

The parts of my said improved apparatus the discovery or invention of which I claim consist in the construction and use in such a furnace, substantially as described, of the air-pipe 12, the blowpipes 13, the supportingspiders 14 and 14:, the shaft 15 and its at tachments, whereby the retort-shell is made to revolve, the annular wings 18 and 18, the angular flanges 19 and 19, and the flexible packing-rings 20 and 20, the ore-discharge pipe 27 in connection with the chute 28, whereby the desulfurized ore is automatically discharged by its own gravity, the dry-pulverized-fuel tank 30, connected to the air-pipe 12 by pipe 36, the alternating valves 42 and 43, and means for operating the same. All other parts, devices, modes, and mechanisms employed in the construction of my said furnace are old and well known, no invention per 36 being herein claimed for such parts, they being designed for service in supporting the parts to which my invention does relate.

I claim as my invention 1. In a furnace of the character described, the combination of a revoluble retort having open ends adjacent to the end walls of the furnace, a packing between the end walls and retort, an air-conducting pipe within the retort, blowpipes projecting from and having communication with the interior of said pipe, spiders carried by said retort and rotatably mounted on said air-pipe, means for rotating said retort, and means for feeding ore into the retort.

2. In a furnace of the character described, the combination with the end walls of the furnace, of flanges projecting inwardly therefrom, a revoluble conical retort, annular Wings carried by said retort and positioned within said flanges, packing-rings arranged between said flanges and wings, and a chute located at the discharge end of said retort, substantially as described.

3. In a furnace of the character described, the combination with the furnace-walls, of a revoluble retort, retortsupporting flanges projecting inwardly from the walls of the furnace, annular wings surrounding said retort and positioned within said flanges, packingrings between said flanges and wings, a discharge-pipe leading from the wall of the furnace at the discharge end of said retort, and a chute providing a slideway from the discharge end of the retort to said spout, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto sign my name in the presence of two witnesses.

AMOS S. PARTRIDGE. Witnesses:

JOHN EDWARD ROBINSON, LOUIS ANFENGER. 

